Magnetic resonance device comprising a sample spinning apparatus

Abstract

A magnetic resonance device comprises a sample spinning apparatus (20) configured to spin a sample (30) about a sample spinning axis (R), the sample spinning apparatus being configured to exert a torque on the sample by interaction of the sample with an electromagnetic sample spinning field.

1 .- 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A magnetic resonance device comprising:
 a sample spinning apparatus configured to spin a sample about a sample spinning axis; and   a resonance structure for exposing the spinning sample to an electromagnetic excitation field to manipulate a nuclear or electronic spin state of the sample,   wherein the sample spinning apparatus is configured to exert a torque on the sample by interaction of the sample with an electromagnetic sample spinning field.   
     
     
         17 . The magnetic resonance device of  claim 16 , wherein the sample spinning field comprises an oscillating electromagnetic field that is circularly polarized so as to exert the torque on the sample by transfer of angular momentum from the electromagnetic field to the sample. 
     
     
         18 . The magnetic resonance device of  claim 17 , wherein the sample spinning field comprises light, and wherein the sample spinning apparatus comprises:
 a laser for generating said light; and   a focusing element for focusing said light to a sample location.   
     
     
         19 . The magnetic resonance device of  claim 18 , wherein the sample spinning apparatus comprises a polarization control device for controlling a polarization state of the light. 
     
     
         20 . The magnetic resonance device of  claim 17 , wherein the sample spinning field comprises a microwave field, and wherein the sample spinning apparatus comprises:
 a microwave source for generating microwave radiation; and   a microwave resonator coupled to the microwave source, wherein the sample location is positioned inside said microwave resonator.   
     
     
         21 . The magnetic resonance device of  claim 16 , wherein the sample spinning apparatus is configured to confine the sample at the sample location by interaction of the sample with the sample spinning field. 
     
     
         22 . The magnetic resonance device of  claim 16 , wherein the sample spinning apparatus is configured to confine the sample at the sample location by interaction of the sample with an electromagnetic trapping field that is different from the sample spinning field. 
     
     
         23 . The magnetic resonance device of  claim 22 , wherein the electromagnetic trapping field comprises light. 
     
     
         24 . The magnetic resonance device of  claim 22 , wherein the electromagnetic trapping field comprises a microwave field. 
     
     
         25 . The magnetic resonance device of  claim 16 , comprising a sample support structure configured to support the sample. 
     
     
         26 . The magnetic resonance device of  claim 25 , wherein the sample support structure comprises a transparent sample support plate configured to allow light to pass through the transparent sample support plate towards the sample. 
     
     
         27 . The magnetic resonance device of  claim 25 , wherein the sample support structure comprises a nozzle device for directing a fluid flow towards the sample. 
     
     
         28 . The magnetic resonance device of  claim 27 , wherein the fluid flow is a flow of superfluidic helium. 
     
     
         29 . The magnetic resonance device of  claim 16 , further comprising a vacuum chamber, wherein the sample location is arranged inside the vacuum chamber to enable the sample to be spun in a vacuum. 
     
     
         30 . The magnetic resonance device of  claim 16 , further comprising an excitation apparatus coupled to the resonance structure to create the excitation field. 
     
     
         31 . The magnetic resonance device of  claim 30 , further comprising a detection apparatus for detecting a response of the sample to the excitation field. 
     
     
         32 . The magnetic resonance device of  claim 16 , wherein the resonance structure comprises a flat carrier defining a carrier plane. 
     
     
         33 . The magnetic resonance device of  claim 32 ,
 wherein the sample spinning field comprises light,   wherein the sample spinning apparatus comprises a laser for generating said light and a focusing element for focusing said light to a sample location, and   wherein the carrier plane is parallel to a direction of propagation of the light at the sample location.   
     
     
         34 . The magnetic resonance device of  claim 32 ,
 wherein the sample spinning field comprises light,   wherein the sample spinning apparatus comprises a laser for generating said light and a focusing element for focusing said light to a sample location, and   wherein the carrier plane is transverse to a direction of propagation of the light at the sample location, the carrier having a hole to allow the light to pass through the carrier.   
     
     
         35 . The magnetic resonance device of  claim 16 ,
 wherein the magnetic resonance device is configured to expose the sample to a static magnetic field that defines a static field direction, and   wherein the magnetic resonance device is configured to be arranged relative to the static magnetic field in such a manner that the sample spinning axis has an orientation at the magic angle Θ m =arctan √{square root over (2)} relative to the static field direction.   
     
     
         36 . The magnetic resonance device of  claim 16 , wherein the magnetic resonance device comprises a cylindrical probe body defining a cylinder axis, and wherein the sample spinning axis has an orientation at the magic angle Θ m =arctan √{square root over (2)} relative to the cylinder axis of the cylindrical probe body. 
     
     
         37 . A magnetic resonance system, comprising a magnet device for generating a static magnetic field along a static field direction and a magnetic resonance device comprising:
 a sample spinning apparatus configured to spin a sample about a sample spinning axis; and   a resonance structure for exposing the spinning sample to an electromagnetic excitation field to manipulate a nuclear or electronic spin state of the sample,   wherein the sample spinning apparatus is configured to exert a torque on the sample by interaction of the sample with an electromagnetic sample spinning field.   
     
     
         38 . The magnetic resonance system of  claim 37 , wherein the magnetic resonance device is arranged relative to the static magnetic field in such a manner that the sample spinning axis has an orientation at the magic angle Θ m =arctan √{square root over (2)} relative to the static field direction. 
     
     
         39 . The magnetic resonance system of  claim 38 ,
 wherein the sample spinning axis is parallel or perpendicular to a direction of gravity, and   wherein the static field direction is inclined to the direction of gravity by the magic angle Θ m .   
     
     
         40 . A magnet device comprising a ring-shaped superconducting magnet having a ring axis that is inclined to a direction of gravity by the magic angle Θ m =arctan √{square root over (2)}, the superconducting magnet being configured to generate a static magnetic field having a static field direction along the ring axis. 
     
     
         41 . The magnet device of  claim 40 , comprising a support for supporting the magnet device in such a manner that the ring axis that is inclined to the direction of gravity by the magic angle Θ m  when the support is placed on a level floor. 
     
     
         42 . The magnet device of  claim 40 , comprising:
 a disk-shaped magnet cryostat that defines a liquid helium bath in which the superconducting magnet is immersed, the disk-shaped magnet cryostat having a central bore along the ring axis.   
     
     
         43 . The magnet device of  claim 42 , comprising:
 an auxiliary cryostat that defines a liquid helium reservoir,   wherein the disk-shaped magnet cryostat is connected to the auxiliary cryostat in such a manner that liquid helium is able to flow between the liquid helium reservoir and the liquid-helium bath.   
     
     
         44 . The magnet device of  claim 43 ,
 wherein the auxiliary cryostat comprises a liquid nitrogen reservoir, and   wherein the disk-shaped magnet cryostat comprises a metallic radiation shield element comprising a shielding portion and a contact portion, the shielding portion being arranged in a vacuum between two shells of the disk-shaped magnet cryostat and at least partially surrounding the liquid-helium bath so as to protect the liquid helium bath from thermal radiation, and the contact portion being immersed in the liquid nitrogen reservoir of the auxiliary cryostat.   
     
     
         45 . A magnetic resonance method, comprising:
 exposing a sample to a static magnetic field along a static field direction;   spinning the sample about a sample spinning axis;   creating an excitation field to manipulate a spin state of the spinning sample; and   measuring a response of the sample to the manipulation of the spin state,   wherein torque is exerted on the sample by interaction of the sample with an electromagnetic sample spinning field.   
     
     
         46 . The magnetic resonance method of  claim 45 , wherein the sample spinning axis has an orientation at the magic angle Θ m =arctan √{square root over (2)} relative to the static field direction. 
     
     
         47 . The magnetic resonance method of  claim 45 , wherein the sample comprises one or more particles that are not packed in a rotor.